U.S. Anticipates Russian Proposal as Zelensky Issues Warning

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that he expects Russia to present a proposal for a Ukraine ceasefire within days — a move that could indicate whether Moscow is genuinely interested in peace — while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of stalling for time.

On Monday, President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following rare direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul on Friday — the first in three years.

Despite repeated proposals from Kyiv and Western allies for a 30-day truce, Putin has continued to reject them. However, according to Rubio, both Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have signaled that they may put forward their own terms “within days, hopefully this week.”

Rubio said Russia's expected proposal would likely lay out general terms for a ceasefire, potentially paving the way for detailed negotiations to end the conflict. He added that the nature of the proposal would reveal much about Moscow’s true intentions. “If it’s realistic and we can build on it, that’s one thing,” he said. “But if it includes demands we know are unacceptable, that tells us something else.”

Following his call with Trump, Putin stated that he was ready to work with Ukraine on a "memorandum" to outline a roadmap and positions for ending the war. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Pope Leo XIV has offered to host further talks at the Vatican.

Rubio also told skeptical lawmakers that Trump had made no concessions to Russia, although Moscow has yet to show increased flexibility since Trump took office in January promising to pursue peace through dialogue.

Zelensky, however, dismissed Russia’s overtures, warning on social media that the Kremlin was “clearly trying to buy time to continue its war and occupation.”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized Putin’s refusal to attend the Istanbul meeting, arguing that it shows his intent to prolong the war.

Meanwhile, the European Union approved its 17th round of sanctions on Russia, targeting 200 ships in Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and a lead economic negotiator with Washington, condemned the move, accusing the West of trying to derail U.S.-Russia dialogue.

Rubio noted that Trump currently opposes new sanctions, fearing they could derail diplomatic progress. On the ground, however, Russia appears emboldened, with military gains and improved international positioning under Trump’s leadership.

According to Russian analyst Konstantin Kalachev, Putin’s “memorandum” is a stalling tactic that allows military operations to continue without requiring a ceasefire.

Since its invasion in February 2022, Russia has devastated eastern Ukraine, caused tens of thousands of deaths, and seized roughly one-fifth of the country.

Despite the recent flurry of diplomacy, skepticism remains in both Kyiv and Moscow. In Ukraine, some citizens expressed disillusionment with Trump, questioning his ability to bring peace. “I never had faith in him and now I have none at all,” said Victoria Kyseliova, a retired teacher in Kyiv. Another resident, engineer Vitaliy, said Trump is no “messiah,” and his efforts have achieved little.

Ukrainian analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said Trump’s calls only deepened uncertainty and warned that Putin was using negotiations as a smokescreen to continue the war.

In Moscow, sentiment was defiant. “We don’t need negotiations. We will win anyway,” said Marina, a 70-year-old former engineer.